Poll shows the majority of Canadians support Prince Harry being made Governor General

A poll has found that the majority of Canadians would support the appointment of Prince Harry as Canada’s Governor General.

Held just two days prior to the shock announcement that Harry and Meghan, would be “stepping back” from their royal duties, it showed 60 per cent of Canadians were in favour of the Prince taking up the role as Queen Elizabeth’s representative in Canada.

Conducted by Dart and Maru/Blue Voice Canada it also showed that young people (aged 18 to 34) who tended to be largely apathetic about the royal family, supported the move.

“There’s enthusiasm for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle because, in many ways, they’re celebrities,” John Wright, a partner at Dart told the National Post.

“Young people are more engaged with (this couple)” than other members of Britain’s royalty, he added.

Even in Quebec, where there is widespread anti-monarchist sentiment, 47 per cent of the population were happy to see the prince take up the role.

Wright puts this down to the work that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have undertaken, and his quest to carve out an independent life which has distinguished the Sussexes from the rest of the Royal Family.

Harry and Meghan both have strong ties to Canada.

The Duchess of Sussex lived there for seven years while she was filming TV series Suits.

The Duke visited in 2017 for the Invictus Games, where he and Meghan, made their official debut as a couple.

Shortly before the announcement, the Sussexes were stepping down from being “senior royals”, the couple had just enjoyed a private six-week vacation in Canada at Vancouver Island with son Archie.

The statement released by the royals said they were planning to “balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America” while continuing to support The Queen and Commonwealth.

While the exact location the family will be moving to has not been revealed, it is widely tipped to be to a location in Canada.

The role is currently held by Montreal-born Julie Payette.

She was appointed on 2 September 2017, after The Queen took advice from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

While the commission is for an unfixed time period, known as serving at Her Majesty’s pleasure, the normal convention is five years.